He starts out his column helping everyone understand how the economy works relative to inflation of the dollar.  "Deflation is just the opposite: You put your feet up and watch your money grow in value."  As if this is some type of an everyday occurrence, when in actuality the last time deflation (currently –0.56%) was an issue it happened the year Mr. Chapman was born.  I’m sure he remembers his grandparents with their feet up watching their social security checks and all their money almost growing out of control (1954 –0.74%).  If you look at the big picture there are times in life that things just don’t seem fair.  I distinctly remember in 1980 when inflation was 13.58% that no one came to me and said that my purchasing power sucks so we are going to reduce the amount of FICA being withheld from your paycheck to ease the pain.  I didn’t whine that those evil seniors like someone’s grandma and grandpa were going to be rewarded at my expense by a COLA increase, and I certainly didn’t suggest that they might become spoiled brats at a poverty level fixed income.  I wholly believe that Mr. Chapman's view of things would be entirely different 12-15 years from now if circumstances beyond his control placed him in a predicament that his only security ended with Social Security and Medicare.

"Last year, seniors got a big raise because consumer prices had jumped 5.8 percent in one year", that’s right Steve.  Now, the greedy old seniors can toss aside that once-a-month treat night to Red Lobster and ramp up for let’s say dinner at Ron of Japan!  Need I remind Mr. Chapman that it is not the senior’s fault that the Social Security Fund is not as flush in surplus as it should be, but as a result of atrocious money mismanagement by decades of irresponsible Congressional spending.

 

Wait a minute!  Mr. Chapman still has his shorts in a knot because since deflation has hit, you seniors can’t have your cake and eat it too!  "Consumer Price Index has dropped by 2.1 percent. So in the coming year, Social Security payments will stay the same and be worth more than they used to be."  I think Mr. Chapman would be happy if you seniors returned 2.1 percent. "Groups representing the elderly, like AARP, have come to regard the annual raise as a sacred birthright in good times as well as bad" and seniors sure wouldn’t want to bear that cross because it would make them feel like UNIONS or CONGRESS.

 

A good example of these spoiled brat seniors Chapman speaks of might be the case of my own mother who just reached her 85^th birthday.  She has a good life and her needs are well met.  She might fall into that category of a Social Security recipient that does not depend entirely on the entitlement. She is compassionate and understands that she is able to help her sister and other seniors with whatever benefit she receives and is mature enough to deal with whatever windfall may come her way.  After reading Steve Chapman's column, twice more than it deserved, I have arrived at the conclusion that from his perspective he could use a little attitude adjustment himself.  Oh and by the way maybe both he and the politicians should grow up!